2013 - Day 120/245 - Tuesday...

I really need to change the flags, but I am hoping to get AT LEAST another couple days out of them and hopefully the wind will not be such a pain.  The flags all last an incredibly long time, considering the amount of wind and other abuses they are subjected to.  And it looks like the big century plant that I went to great trouble and expense to move from my mothers house will be blooming soon; which (I believe) also means it will be dying soon.  Crap!

Well, it seems like I can remember complaining that March was already over, and where were the days going?  Now April is over, and it seems like I lost another 30 days!  WTH?

Today was a good (but really busy) day.  Jody had a dental appointment so I took him to that.  After that we went to the office and he and Carrie and I went to El Mercado for lunch (Elmer Burger, no bun).  Then back to the office for some power real estate, and then home (of course we ran three errands on the way home).  BUT it was a great day of accomplishments!

I believe tomorrow is going to be a full day of office stuff, but now that I think about it, I think I will take the truck in to the office tomorrow, and do some shopping on the way home.  I need to get a few things (BIG BULKY things), so that will be fun.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ANOTHER CENTURY BITES THE DUST, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 119/246 - Monday...

I slept much better last night, thanks for asking.

The Morning Glories continue to do nicely, and they are making strong gains in climbing up the trellis(es).  I still expect that it will be a couple weeks before we see any blooms from them.  There is big news on the Four O'clock front as well; if it had not started raining this evening and if there had not been GALE FORCE winds come through after dinner, I bet this Four O'clock would have been blooming proudly (even if it was really almost 7 o'clock.  I blame the whole thing on daylight saving time.  I still say I expect global warming could be directly linked to daylight saving time.  That extra hour of sunlight is gonna burn up all the corn crops, too.

I was in Waco today for a meeting at the Waco Association of REALTORS®.  Just in case you are wondering, I can tell you EXACTLY how much it costs to have someone come out and open up your vehicle after you have locked your keys inside it.  Even so, it was not a really terrible day.

Tomorrow will be another busy day, and I have a feeling that this week is working its way towards being a really busy week.  Lots of things happening.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BLOOMERS (not the Diane kind), Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 118/247 - Sunday...

I DID NOT SLEEP A WINK LAST NIGHT.  Okay, I am (probably) exaggerating, but I did not sleep comfortably at all.  I think I was too tired to sleep. and the self-medication was not working t all.

We had a couple Passion Vines added to the landscaping, and they were covered with buds.  I hope they keep blooming over the summer, they are beautiful.  The Morning Glories have started climbing up the trellis as well, so that is good.  Hopefully there will b e some blooms in another couple weeks.  The grape vines we planted a couple years ago seem to really have their roots down this year, and there are baby grapes all over the place.  Things look to have settled in pretty nicely, time will tell.

We recorded 0.36" of rain overnight, so that is good.  Miguel came out this morning, and even though there were spells when I just kind of sat in the Polaris and stared into the big middle, we got a lot of stuff done and things are looking pretty nice.  Maintenance is really a killer.  I told Jody that, when we were looking at this place years ago, I must have just thought there would be no weeds, that things would just magically stay maintained.  BUT THEY DON'T, and there is a lot of maintenance to be done.  There is ALWAYS something to do around here.

The girls are all doing nicely, and we are not short of chickens, that is for sure.  It hit me today that, once all the girls start laying, it would not be unusual for us to gather two dozen eggs a day, and probably more than that.  I told Jody I would set him a little stand up at the front of the driveway and he could sell eggs.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TO DO OR DON'T, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 117/248 - Saturday...

MY BUTT HURTS...

Well, let's just say it in not really that comfortable right now.  I finished the Hill Country Ride for AIDS this afternoon, so I am pretty happy about that.  No injuries, no embarrassments, not too much pain.  I got up this morning about 5:30 I think, and we headed out to Reunion Ranch about 6:45.  The 100 mile riders were just leaving as we were getting in.  Jody and I met up with our friends Steve and Mark, Steve is a really strong rider, and Mark was providing SAG for us.  The 50 and 70 mile riders were scheduled to leave at 8:30 but we didn't leave until almost 9 o'clock.

I also got a chance to visit with a lot of folks that I started riding with back in the last '90's;  Tom, Joe, Shannon, Ted (and I am sure I am forgetting a couple others).  It was a good ride, it started to get kind of hot about 12:30, and I started getting some leg cramps in my GOOD LEG at about mile 43, but not bad enough to keep me from finishing.  It was great to ride with Steve, I would head out on the course, he would catch up with me and hang with me as we rode. A good day.  We finished the ride about 2 o'clock, and heading home about a half hour later.

Just as we were about a mile from the house, there was a pretty incredible bolt of lightning, and a really loud clap of thunder.  The dog boy is not fond of either one, but we were home pretty quickly.  We have had about 0.35" of rain so far, and there is a possibility of storms very early in the morning.  My intention right now is to self-medicate, put the girls to be and get in the bed myself.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SORE BUTT, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 116/249 - Friday...

This evening, I attended the registration, carbo-load and opening ceremony for the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.  That is tomorrow.  Not sure what time we need to leave here to get there, but I hope to be there between 7 and 7:30, and get started on the ride before 8 o'clock.  I am doing 50 miles, and the start time for that is supposed to be 8:30, but you know how I am with authority figures.  My friend Steve stopped by the office this evening and took me to the registration, and he will be riding tomorrow as well.  He is one of the top fundraisers this year, and big congratulations to him for that accomplishment.

We had the deck around the pool raised today.  There were spots where the deck had sunk and there were some places where the soil under the decking had washed out.  This company comes out and injects concrete under the deck and raises it up and fills in the gaps.  Jody said it was really interesting to watch.  The decking all looks really nice now.  I may paint it as well, but that is yet to be seen.

I stayed in the office all day today and did office work.  I will not be back in the office until Tuesday, I have an appointment in Waco on Monday.

Hopefully I will be posting ride photos tomorrow after a great ride.  We shall see...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, RIDING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 115/250 - Thursday...

I CAN'T QUIT YOU!

Crap...

I got up early today to finish up prepping for a quick presentation I was asked to make last Friday.  Two hours worth of presentation leads to about thirty hours of preparation if there is nothing already established to present.  Can you make a presentation about Policy Governance to the TRLP (Texas REALTOR® Leadership Program class) next Thursday.  Um, sure, where can I find the material.  Well, there isn't any, just put something together.

Okay...

But I think it turned out okay, and at least no one fell asleep while I was talking.  In my opinion, that is always a positive sign!

Tomorrow is Friday, and I actually can get to stay in bed a little while later than usual.  We are having some contractors come out to the house early and work on the decking around the pool, so I would like to be here when they arrive.  My first meeting is not until 10:30 so that should work out just fine.

Tomorrow night is the registration and opening program for the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.  I signed up for a 100 mile ride (Saturday) but I think I am going to go for just 50 miles.  That will be plenty!

And then on Sunday, I plan to recuperate.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, JELLY BEANS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 114/251 - Wednesday...

Even I can (on occasion) pull the wool over over on a chicken.  I am not saying that there won't be hell to pay tomorrow, but for now, I got what I wanted.  I was late getting home this evening, and I was out making sure all the chickens had food and water and all the chicken stuff necessary to build strong bones and shells, and it was really not dark enough for them to be in their beds for the night, but I told them that it was Christmas Eve and if they expected any presents from Santa Claus, they have better be good chickens and go to bed.  I will face the reality of my foibles tomorrow, and try to convince them that it was just a fig newton of their imaginations, that I would NEVER EVER trick them into going to bed early.

Whatever...

This morning seems like it was two weeks ago, it was a pretty busy and hectic day.  Another one is expected for tomorrow, and then it calms down for a little while.

Today was my friend Chris' Birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

Big Bike Ride on Saturday, wish me luck!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHICKEN TRICKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 113/252 - Tuesday...

We are over run (is that supposed to be one word or two?) with chickens.

For a Tuesday, the day was not really up to par with a Monday, even though I did consume volumes of coffee and I got a lot of work done.  Yesterday was a better day than today.  I did get to check a whole lot of things off my To Do or Don't List, so that was pretty good and there is pretty much a whole week left before the end of this month and the whole thing starts all over again.

Tomorrow promises to be another day, and I am done with the philosophizing for one night.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, OVER-SCHEDULED, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

PS:  Hyphens will fix most anything...

2013 - Day 112/253 - Monday...

I think our dog is in the witness protection program.  It was not just a lucky coincidence that we adopted him from the Williamson County Shelter, it was all a plot to relocate him and bring him out to the country where the chances of his running into his old mafia colleagues were minimal at best.  He has NEVER EVER wanted to cooperate with having his picture taken, and will do everything in his power to not be cooperative.  This photo is the BEST of about a dozen that I took this evening while Jody and I and the dog-boy were sitting out on the front porch.  I was even bribing him with vanilla wafer cookies but he would have no part of it.  If you recognize this dog and believe he is still being hunted down by some sort of doggy-mafia for turning states evidence, please ignore this post.  Thank you.

Today was a great day, but I think (probably) that any day that starts with about a half-dozen cups of coffee is destined to be a good day, mainly because you are spinning so fast that you do not remember much of anything beyond the last couple hours.  So, maybe I only think it was a great day...

I did get a lot of work done in the office, but my TO DO OR DON'T LIST does not seem to be getting any shorter. I am finding lots of things to do or don't that don't seem to be on the list.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DOG-BOY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 111/254 - Sunday...

As opposed to yesterday, today played out just exactly as I thought it would...

I don't remember these Iris being quite this orangy...I remember them being more of a burnt orange, but I guess this is the best they could do this year.  PLUS, it is not every day that you see any kind of an orange Iris.  I'm just sayin'.

I did not get out of bed until about 6:30 this morning and that was good.  When I got up, I made coffee, read the paper (all the usual stuff) and made me and Jody a pile of eggs.  Then it was out to the yard.

I got grass cut in the front and some in the back.  Today was the first day that the regular lawn mower was started for the year, and it took a little doing.  BUT after it started, it was just fine.  Miguel came out today, and he was busy trying to re-edge the front walkway, and then there were cattle to feed.  There is a short somewhere in the electric fence and I can't find it.  There is always tomorrow.

Cutting the grass had a few challenges.  The chickens cannot quite get a grasp on the concept that the riding lawnmower is bigger than they are.  We almost Vera a couple times, she came close to being a victim on henocide.  New word, I will take all the credit.

This will be a relatively average week, I think.  But that could change.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HENOCIDE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 110/255 - Saturday...

Today did not play out anything like I was expecting...

Believe it or not, the chickens have not dug up all the amaryllis bulbs that we have put in the ground in the last several years that we have lived here.  Most of them, but not all of them.

I did stay in bed until about 6:30 or so this morning, having decided that I would ride my bike in 'the hood' and then go into Austin for my 2 o'clock appointment.  I got breakfast made, had a couple cups of coffee and read the paper.  I have been having a really bad leg cramp (left leg am I doomed?) since about Wednesday, and it was bad enough overnight to wake me up several times.  SO, I decided NOT to ride today.  I will do okay next week, I am not terribly concerned about that.

I took a walk with Jody and then we took the boy dog for a ride, and then I was off to Austin.  I got some work done in the office and then I was off to meet my clients in Wimberley.  Showed three houses and then got back home by 6:30.  It was kind of a long day (for a Saturday).

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EXPECTATIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 109/256 - Friday...

It is Friday and I am beat!

Last night, Jody got his anniversary gift a little bit early, about two months early.  In June, we will start our 22nd year together, but that is still two months away.  ANYWAY, after twenty two years, there is really no reason to wait for particular days or dates to do things.  We have always liked these Purple Martin houses, and we had a smaller version of this down at the farm in Red Rock.  We were out in the back pasture a week or so ago, and we were looking at the old Martin houses back there, and decided it would be good to go ahead and get this colony going.  I called the guy (Danny) at Purple Martin Propagators and he came out last night and installed this.  We have about a two week window to get Martins in this colony going this year, or it may be next year before we get any action here.  BUT, the Martins are still on the move in the area, so we will keep our fingers crossed.  I like the looks of these propagators anyway, so even if we don't get birds this year, it is another piece of yard art.

Today was not the best day I have ever had.  My iPhone was failing, and the get the new iPhone, I needed to back up the existing phone.  Could not get that done, I even went to an off-site place to get it backed up (APPLE REFUSED TO DO IT, thank you very much), and the guy THOUGHT it was backed up, so I went and got the new iPhone.  Backup did not work, all my data (okay, just most of it) is gone.  Woe is me.  I believe I will get most of it restored within the next week or two, but it is not going to be fun.  In the meantime, I have to carry my iPad around so I can know what I am doing from one day to the next.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PROPAGATORS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 108/257 - Thursday...

It is almost the weekend, and I am ready.  Of course, I am planning a 28 mile bike ride on Saturday morning and I have clients to show houses to (not sure if that will be on Saturday or Sunday), but I will still be ready for the weekend.

It waited to rain until AFTER I got to the office today, but it did rain while I was delivering the Meals-On-Wheels route in the late morning.  I was not really prepared for the cooler temperatures after the front came in, and the dribbly rain made it a little bit worse.  Windy, cold, rainy...just what I like.  BUT, the clients were happy to see me, and that is what matters.

I got MOST of my ministerial credentials today.  Now I have special parking passes and identification badges so I can get where the action is without too much trouble.  I wonder if I should check with the legislature to see if they need my help with anything?

The girls are all doing well, and it is supposed to be REALLY chilly tomorrow night.  That should do it for this season (I hope).  It would be nice if it would just stay nice and temperate.

What are the chances of that? 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CREDENTIALS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 107/258 - Wednesday...

Not a bad day actually for a technically challenged person.  That is code for 'old man'.  More about that later.

Lovely new Iris blooms when I got home this afternoon.  These are really pretty, and I had not noticed them until today.

I got into the office early, did some power real estate, and then headed off to the Board where I taught a quick one hour class on the Code of Ethics.  I love teaching (guiding) ethics classes, and the folks that attend are really interested in the Code, so it works out all the way around.

Back to the office for a bit more real estate and then I had an appointment at the Apple Store in the domain.  Yep, absolutely my iPhone 4S has a problem and the Bluetooth does not work.  Yes indeedy we will replace that phone for you for free Mr. Evans, is all your data from this phone backed up?  Ummm, no, I thought you would do that here while I was here; just transfer if from this phone to the new phone, that is what you did the last time you replaced my iPhone 4S for free.  Oh, but it says this phone has NEVER been backed up...blah, blah, blah.  So I need to back this phone up to the CLOUD and then go back tomorrow and get the new phone.  It is always something.

SO, you also have to be connected to a WiFi to do the back up, and I could not get my iPhone 4S to connect to my WiFi at home, so I spent HOURS jerry-rigging that to work.  I think it is actually backing up now, so life will return to normal in a few hours (I hope).

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BACKUPS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas FUN!

2013 - Day 106/259 - Tuesday...

Man it seems like it should be further into the week than just Tuesday.  Maybe I am time travelling backwards.  It could happen, I saw it once in a Superman movie.

And now for something completely different.  Vera in a little bit on edge.  Ever since she got expanded cable out in the coop she has been a little testy.  I never would have thought that she would become a NEWS JUNKIE, but there you have it, she spends all night with the TV on (she says she just leaves it on for the noise) but I think she is getting to be a little bit out of control.  It all started a couple weeks ago with the coverage of the bird flu in China, and things have gotten worse and worse every since.  This morning she asked me to upgrade her cell phone service to include an International Calling plan, and that I would be sorry if I did not succumb.  AT&T wants a wing and a leg for that service (never mind the intimation of a breast), so I am thinking of selling her iPhone 5 on CraigsList and going to Wal-Mart and getting her one of those pre-paid service plans with a throw-away phone.  At least then I will know what is going on.

More later...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIRD FLU, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 105/260 - Monday...

And so, he will have to launch the missile, because another crazy person just bombed a bunch of pedestrians in Boston.  What the hell?

2013 - Day 104/261 - Sunday...

I would appreciate it very much if, for this date forward, you would refer to me as 'Brother Bill'.  Some of you have referred to me as that for quite some time, but it is now official...

Last night, through the 'miracle' of modern technology, I was ordained as a minister in the Universal Life Church Ministry.  Do you know anyone that needs to be married?  I'm your guy.  Know anyone that is looking for a divorce, maybe not.  Here is just a portion of the e-mail I received from Brother Martin very shortly after I pushed 'enter'.  Congratulations! You are now legally ordained for life, though you may relinquish your credentials at any time. AS OF Saturday the 13th of April 2013 YOU HAVE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS CLERGY. You have earned a title worthy of admiration and respect.

Let it be known on this date that in accordance with the laws of the Universal Life Church Monastery, as ordaining officer, I, Brother Martin, do ordain you into our ministry. From this day forward, you are entitled to all of the rights of an ordained minister. You have the authority to perform marriages, baptisms, and all other ceremonies of the church. You are an independent minister of this church. This is a position that carries with it a burden of responsibility; please respect others and comply with the laws of the land.

And the whole thing was FREE.  I did however, order the Ordination Package for $26, and soon, via USPS I will receive my Ordination Credentials, my ULC Wallet Card, Press Pass, Parking Pass and Letter of Good Standing.  I am considering a Dr. of Divinity Certificate (DD) and the book 'Baker's Wedding Handbook: A Resource for Pastors'.  What do you think?

Other than that, today was a pretty ordinary Sunday.  I actually stayed in bed late and by the time I got up, Jody had the paper in, so all I needed to do was make coffee and have a seat.  I made our breakfast and headed out to the chickens.  There was no chicken massacre last night, and the four Wyandotte's survived the night with no obvious scars.  It was moving day for all the younger chicks today;  the seven intermediate chicks were transferred to the Wyandotte's old digs, and the fourteen littlest girls were moved into the intermediates old quarters.  ALL the bigger chicks (the old guards plus the Wyandotte's) were VERY INTERESTED in the newest girls who had been housed inside the front barn in a water trough.  They are doing fine, everyone seems happy.  I think I have one intermediate girl that is not doing particularly well, and I think there are (at least) two of the youngest chicks that are of a male persuasion.  Too bad for them!

Miguel and I got a lot of other stuff done around the house, and things are going nicely.  Always plenty of work to be done!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MOVING DAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 103/262 - Saturday...

Today was a day, indeed.  I got up this morning about 5:30 because I needed to leave the house about 7:15 to meet up for a training ride.

Made coffee, read the paper and then cooked some bacon and a pile of eggs for me and Jody.  I got everything loaded in the truck and took off.  I got to Leander in plenty of time for the ride, and it was a good ride.  A little over 23 miles with some pretty good confidence building inclines  Got it done in just about an hour and a half.  I stopped along the way to take this photo of a wildflower that I had not seen before, looks like a hibiscus, but not sure what it is.  After I took the photo, I fell over into the gravel on the shoulder of the road because I had been too lazy to unclip both of my feet from the pedals.  FIRST time in all the years I have ridden to fall over.  CRAZY.

Then, on the way home, I stopped in Georgetown to buy some cattle feed, and when I adjusted the bike in the bed of the truck to get the feed loaded, the bike shifted and i ripped my front tire and the tube.  SO, it looks like I will be making a trip to the bike shop later this week, so I can get that fixed.  There is just one more training ride next weekend before the ride on the 27th.  I did 23 miles today, not sure what I will do next week, but I am pretty comfortable that I will be able to do the 50 miles on the 27th without a lot of trouble.  We shall see.

Tonight the Silver Laced Wyandottes are going to be evicted from their home and moved into the big coop with the big girls.  I expect there will be some pecking going on, but they will be able to survive it.  The first couple days will be the hardest.  There will always be one girl that is getting pecked on by the others, and usually Vera is doing the pecking.  She thinks (and kind of knows) that she is special.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EVICTIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 102/263 - Friday...

This particular Iris in the yard has such dark purple blooms that portions of them look black.  Just beautiful!

As Friday's go, this one was pretty darned good.  I could have slept a whole lot longer this morning, but I am not complaining.  I got into the office about 7:30 and got lots of stuff done.  Enough that I was able to leave the office about 2 o'clock.  Just because I left early does not mean that I god home early.  I had to stop and get chicken feed, and I dealt with some telephone calls and some this and that, but I made it home just shortly after four o'clock. 

I gathered up Jody and we drove into Bartlett to pick up some cattle feed, but the place had closed today (of all the days) at noon.  Usually they are open until 6.  I will be heading out early tomorrow for a bike ride, so I wanted to get the cattle feed today and not have to worry about it tomorrow.  BUT, the cattle will get fed on Sunday as usual, so there is still time.

In order to get where I am going tomorrow to ride, I will have to leave the house about 7 o'clock.  I will drive about 35 miles (one way) to do a 23 mile bike ride.  Am I missing something in that scenario?

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FLARES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 101/264 - Thursday...

Yep, if it is Thursday, that means tomorrow must be Friday, and I am ready for it.

Today was not a particularly bad day, but there were a couple disappointments.  Nothing to cry over or anything like that, but there could have been a couple things that worked out better.  I'm just sayin...

We did get a little bit more rain overnight, so that is good.  And today was the monthly business meeting of the Women's Council of REALTORS® which included the annual Cake Auction to benefit TREPAC.  I good time was had by all!  I donated a cake that generated a $400 bid (thanks Terry) and then I got to keep the cake as well!  SO, there was cake all around at the office and I brought two slices of it home with me for Jody.  A delicious (so I am told) chocolate fudge cake, made by the folks that make yummy things for the Cheesecake Factory.  I have not had any of it, and I do not expect I will have any of it.  I still have a few jelly beans left.  I know the calorie and carb count (off the box) but I will not share that publicly unless I am specifically requested for that information.  I will say, however, that it is an obscene amount of both calories and carbohydrates, and just the thought of it will clog your arteries.  This is a photo of PROBABLY the most creative cake that was offered, and it got sold TWICE (the second time my friend Will bought it, thanks Will).  The same guy that bought my cake bought this one and then put it back into the auction to be sold again!

I will be doing a bike ride this weekend, the route is yet to be determined.  After that, we may try to go and visit Miguel and his wife and baby.  Plans are still in the development stages.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CALORIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 100/265 - Wednesday...

Can you believe we are already 100 days into this year.  It seems like just two or three years ago it was the New Year.  Whatever...  Really, time is zipping by.  I have a way of keeping up with the passing parade of days, and if you want me to tell you about it, just ask me...

I have been reading a book called Team of Rivals, about Abraham Lincoln between the time of his election to the Presidency up to the time of his assassination, and how he worked with and nominated his rivals to high posts within his cabinet.  Lots to be learned from this book.  From start to end, it was just about 9 hours (books on CD) so it was a pretty concise account.  Interesting though.  I kind of think it could also be included as a business management reference book, although hopefully most business majors and MBA students will have a different ultimate outcome.  This is a photo compilation of the conspirators of Lincoln's assassination.

Tomorrow I will begin a new book titled The Lifeboat.  I think it is about folks from the Titanic.  I think it will be a pretty good read.

I made it into the office at about 6:30 this morning, and got a good bit of work done before I headed off to the Texas Real Estate Commission for my quarterly Education Standards Advisory Committee meeting.  We are doing really REALLY good work on this committee, and it is very rewarding.  Every meeting gets better and better, and we work better and better together as a committee.  Good things will result from this work; good things for real estate education and for the public by getting better education agents in the profession.

Tomorrow is the Women's Council of REALTORS® (Austin Chapter) business luncheon, and it is the meeting for the Annual TREPAC Cake Auction.  We will wait and see what I come home with tomorrow night!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ASSASSINATIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 99/266 - Tuesday...

This photo of me is better than the one taken immediately after with my tongue hanging out.  Thanks for taking the photo doren.  It was REALTOR® day at the State Capitol and there were an estimated 2,000 of us from across the country.  It was a pretty nice day for it, not too hot, not too cold, not raining but cloudy.  TO give you an idea of the Texas extremes; in the panhandle today, it was 37 degrees, and it was 108 degrees in the valley.  Weird.  Many of our legislators were busy today, so we met mostly with their aides or other staff.  Mark Strama did meet with us first thing this morning, and he made a very good presentation about spending caps, the rainy day fund, water issues and transportation.  Interesting stuff...

It is supposed to rain overnight and some tomorrow up until mid day.  Not supposed to make it much out of the 60's tomorrow, and the winds are supposed to shift from the north.  Nothing extreme is expected I don't believe.

All the girls are doing well.  The youngest girls have grown INCREDIBLY in just the last couple days.  It seems like they have doubled in size, but they probably really haven't.  It just kind of took me by surprise this afternoon when I went out to check on them.  They are getting BIG!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIG CHICKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 98/267 - Monday...

LIES, ALL LIES!  There is nothing that I could tell you today that would be informative that you do not already know.  I know each of my THOUSANDS or followers are totally connected to their individual news sources (one Missouri follower even purports to be an avid subscriber to daily print media), so there is nothing substantial to disclose.

Well, that is not totally true.  I did make it to work this morning, busied myself with office work, and was surprised and delighted to receive an e-mail from my friends (and long time clients) George and June.  Then there were a couple meetings and then I came home.

All the girls are doing well, and the Silver Laced Wyandottes are enjoying their freedoms in becoming 'free-range-girls'.  They are getting a little bit braver with each passing hour, and they really are pretty.  All the chicks are getting bigger, and pretty soon I will not know where to put all of them.

Tomorrow will be a busy and early day.  HILL VISITS.  I have to be on a bus and ready to leave the Board Offices at 7:30, which means I have to leave here about 6AM, which means...well, it is the domino theory in reverse.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HILL VISITS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 97/268 - Sunday...

I was relatively useless today, I had no energy to do a darned thing, and that is pretty much what I did.  Well, okay there were some accomplishments, but I was pretty much dragging the whole day.

I got up about six o'clock and read the paper and had a couple cups of coffee.  Then I made some more bacon and a pile of eggs for me and Jody.  After breakfast, I went outside and started cutting grass.  It was overcast and drizzling rain and chilly, but it was okay.  Miguel was here to help, and he got the cattle fed.  I messed with chickens for a while, and cut some more grass.  I messed with chickens for a while longer, and then cut some more grass.

Miguel and I headed into Georgetown to get some plumbing supplies at Home Depot, and when we got back, I cut some more grass.  Do you see a pattern here?

Jody and I went back into Georgetown tonight and had dinner at Catfish Parlor.  That is the most fried food I have had in about four months, and I am not sure if it is agreeing with me or not.  The overnight will be the real test.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GRASS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 96/269 - Saturday...

We don't know what they are, but they are pretty so we bought them.  I wish I had a nickel for every time I have said and done that!

I stayed in bed until about 5:30 this morning, and got up and did a few chores, then I made a pan of bacon and a pile of eggs for me and Jody.  I was supposed to meet my friend Steve at Berry Springs (I thought it was Berry Creek) Park in Georgetown at 8:30, but he got there early and I was on the way.  We rode a little over 17 miles, and it was a good ride.  I should not say this, but I wish it was just a teensy bit warmer in the early mornings.  It will be soon enough, and then I will be complaining about that.  AND, it could be just a little bit less windy, that would be okay too.

After I got home, Jody and I both stretched out and took a nap, and then we went into Georgetown for lunch and a little shopping.  We found the plant above at Home Depot, and we got two of them for the front porch.Very nice to have a little bit of spring color out there, and they will attract butterflies nicely too, we suspect.

Tomorrow will be serious chore day around the house, and that will make for a day of good accomplishments.  I need to get some paint and paint the front and back barn.  We shall see.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FLARES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 95/270 - Friday...

It's Friday, I'm tired.

I got home after 6 tonight, after a long day.  I did get my car back, but in my opinion, it was not worth the effort.  I did get the wiper blades replaced though, that is something.  The truck I was in averages about ten cents per mile in gas.  I drove that truck just shy of 300 miles, and put 20 gallons of gas in it.  I am not at all used to that.

When I got home, I was greeted by all the big girls up towards the front of the property.  Everyone was accounted for, but Vera seemed to be a straggler.  She eventually came around, played hard to get for a while, but finally succumbed to a couple publicity stills for the files.  She loves having her picture taken.

I am going to try to sleep in a while tomorrow morning, although I will be meeting my friend Steve at 8:30 for a bike ride, then Jody and I have some chores to get completed, and a lot of this and that.

Next week is going to be a BUSY week, Hill Visits on Tuesday and a TREC ESAC meeting on Wednesday.  I already have two appointments on Monday, one or two on Thursday, and a couple on Friday.  Then it will be quiet for a few days after that.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TIREDNESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 94/271 - Thursday...

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  The flesh, however, was strong enough to go to three different Walgreen's in the past two days looking for jelly beans (had to be Brach's Classics) before it became totally weakened.  The flesh was strong enough that it only bought two bags of jelly beans, even though at $1.38 a bag it was quite a bargain.  I hope that by the time I polish off those newly acquired bags of sugary confection that I will be absolutely SICK of jelly beans until next year.  Please keep me in your thoughts.

I have two words for North Korea:  DUMB MASSES.

Today was a nice day, got some work done in the office and then did my Meals-On-Wheels route with Chris, previewed a property that will be coming on the market in the next couple days, and then back to the office.  Then I had some time to run a couple errands (see first paragraph) and I had to get some more chicken feed as well.  We have lots of chickens, which means we need lots of chicken feed.  You may or may not know the routine!

I will get to sleep a little bit longer in the morning, I am going straight to the Board of REALTORS® for a new member orientation, so that is always fun.  I won't make it into the office until almost noon. 

I should be able to pick up my car tomorrow afternoon as well, and then I need to get in a bike ride on Saturday.  The big ride is coming up quickly, April 27th. 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BEANS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 93/272 - Wednesday...

If it is chilly (high today was in the 50's) and wet and cloudy it must be the day that I stop and pick up chili to go at Wendy's.  It is THE BEST chili in the world, I don't care who you are.  It is so good in fact, that I think I am going to enter it into the Chili Cook-Off next year.  I can smell (yeah, it has beans) a first prize ribbon already.  Don't tell anyone...

We received 0.74" of rain overnight, and we have about another tenth-of-an-inch in the gauge right now.  We are closing in on an inch of rain for the month already, hopefully that will not be all we get.

I took my car in to have it serviced this morning, and I am driving a HUGE bright red Silverado pickup.  I do not think gas mileage is one of the selling points on this vehicle, but it is big and comfortable and imposing.  It is a club cab model, so it is EXTRA big, but not a very large bed for hauling stuff.  More of a kind of a sissy truck, if you ask me.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIG TRUX, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 92/273 - Tuesday...

It actually rained on me a little bit on the way to work this morning, and provided me with one of my favorite photo opportunities.  I love what the camera lens does to raindrops and taillights.  Sue me.  I pretty much quit raining during the day, but it did rain at the house this afternoon.  At last check, we had about a half-inch of rain, and more is expected overnight.

Today was a day of many accomplishments.  Accomplishments.  I did not say anything about getting things accomplished at the office, but accomplishments were made nonetheless.  I had an appointment with a great electrician from Georgetown (ask me and I will give you a reference) who had taken my original 240 volt car charger and replaced a ceramic fuse in it, and re-mounted it.  As of this writing, the car is still charging, so that is a good thing.  I have burned through three of those chargers (VOLT owes me a fourth right now, but I have not started that argument yet), and this one is the original from the purchase in 2010 or really early in 2011.  I have also burned through at least four of the 110 volt chargers.  I have an appointment to take the car in to the dealer tomorrow to see if there is an issue with the car or if it is an issue with the chargers.  Wither way, there has to be some relief.  I like the car, it is just the technical support from General Motors that sucks.  Very frustrating.

That was the major accomplishment for the day, I will save you from hearing about the others for another day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 91/274 - Monday (Jody's Birthday)...

What do you get the man that has everything and wants nothing?  Well, this year you get him flying pigs.  Jody spent his birthday having lunch with a friend and fielding telephone calls from admirers across the country.  I think overall, he had a pretty good day.

Traffic was not terrible this morning on the way to work, and that was pretty much the pre-cursor to the day.  I think tomorrow, and much of this week will be about the same, but I think next week will be a busy, busy one.

The jelly beans in the house are on notice.  I have been fooloed one time too many by black jelly beans being mistaken for purple jelly beans, and I will not stand for it.  Black jelly beans are now officially on notice.  Thank you.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FLYING PIGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!